The Innocence of Teacups

There best be a crowd. Last year people gathered in Violet Town to await his arrival. After two years the novelty of Alexander might have worn off. Almost at town now. He halted his cart and shimmered on his mask. When telling his troupe he practised dark magic and was actually Eagle some kind of demon-child he’d been nervy, only there’d been no reason for nerves seen as those dancers must have let his secret leak on account of no one had been shocked or angry at his revelation. Caz had been wary of his magic to begin with. Sabina managed to talk him round.

Right then Sabina and Caz jumped out the back of the wagon which he’d acquired to transport his stock. The cart was used to carry his troupe. Sabina and Caz got to work attaching banners to the sides of the cart. They read in bold purple letters: ALEXANDER THE TREMENDOUS, and, A MYSTIFYING MERCHANT FROM LANDS FAR AWAY.

“Have a good show,” said Sasha as he rode up to the cart. He always travelled with them as far as Violet Town to make sure they didn’t get attacked by spirits. “I’ll ride on ahead so I can watch.”

He climbed into the back of the cart trying not to get tangled up in his long purple cape. It was rather hot to be wearing a cape but at least his red shirt was sleeveless and white trousers cut off at the knee; Zotican fashion all the way.

The dancers came to stand with him while Maxi tuned his lute, and Misha got comfortable with his two drums. His minstrel Rothe took the reins. Sabina and Caz walked either side of the cart. His assistant merchant, Leo, was driving the wagon.

“Does my jewellery look okay Eagle?” asked Flower.

He admired the gold bangles on Flower’s bare arms and of course a bracelet one of which they sold. “Your jewellery always looks splendid.”

“Everyone ready?” asked Rothe.

“All set up here,” he said as Vixi draped her arms round his chest. After year one he’d gotten used to intimacy amongst performers. It was hard to be modest with these dancers flinging themselves all over the place.

Their cart rolled on through the last of the trees. The musicians started to play and acrobats tumbled and did intricate moves always in synch with each other. Those suns sure were hot away from the shade of trees. There was Violet Town. Showtime.

“From a long line of merchants, he is the first to cross oceans and defeat a terrifying sea serpent. No one can compare to his magnificence. His beautiful dancers he saved from an enchantress...”

Whoa this crowd was massive compared to last year. People lining the streets certainly didn’t all live in Violet Town. It was strange to think people would travel to see their show and buy his carvings.

“I give you the stupendous Alexander Pelevin!”

That was his cue to pretend to be some dashing young merchant. Young yes, dashing not in reality. Kazarans were warmed to his angelic tidy blond look. He preferred being in Zoticas where no mask was needed. He swished his cape around and gave a fancy bow while the girls danced round him. Did people actually believe what Rothe told them or were they well aware this was all a show? Whatever people thought everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, especially the acrobats; applause made Sabina shine.

He kept bowing and waving at people in the street as Rothe drove them to a patch of grass where they displayed their main performance and sold some wares. It was only a patch of grass because originally Violet Town had never been one of his stops however the towns’ folk had been so curious of them they’d made a quick stop off there. There they were on the patch of grass and loads of people crowded round hungry for entertainment.

Standing in-between the dancers he got down from the cart with a friendly smile. “Good afternoon Violet Town such a pleasure to be here. Behold my three fiery beauties.” The dancers bowed then swirled round him as he threw them ribbons which appeared to be on fire. One of his less provocative illusions; it even passed the untrained eye as light magic. Heck if these Kazarans thought he was up to magic they’d be run over the mountain. The ribbon trick was the safest they had. When the fire illusion faded away they threw the ribbons into the audience and he did the same with his cape.

All rested up Sabina and Caz went through their routine which involved quite a few somersaults which he joined in with. Sabina stayed true to her word and taught him some acrobatics. He’d never be as skilled as her but managed to join in with some of the less complex routines.

When the act was over with he held up a sunshine yellow bracelet for the crowd to see. “A summery bracelet only eight silver for the welcoming people of Violet Town. If you’re interested then please see Vixen, Sparkles, or Flower.” He gestured at the dancers who leapt from the cart and swirled their way into the crowd wearing plenty of jewellery.

“Have you any carvings Alexander?” shouted someone.

“Indeed I do.”

“Carved by his own fair hand,” said Rothe as he lay a blanket out on the grass.

Leo came out from behind the wagon with a selection of carvings which they arranged on the blanket. When everything was set out Leo went to take care of their two horses which would be in need of food and water.

Time for him to start selling. He sat cross legged with the carvings as a group of people came over to admire them. Caz and Sabina went round with a donation bucket for the show which never saw many coins in Kazara, but in Zoticas was filled to over flow point in big cities like Azure.

On the blanket sat his usual carving panels, intended to hang on walls. As well as these he’d progressed to carving statues. There were cats, bears, cows, and raccoons, sat on the blanket waiting for owners. Being in Zoticas was much more interesting. There he sold sea serpents, sorcerers, knights on horseback and charming bats. He’d even carved a statue of a pixie but didn’t dare attempt to sell that seen as Lady Lev would be after his blood if she heard the slightest rumour of him associating himself with other worldly peoples.

“This is a handsome cat,” said a lady as he turned a sitting cat round in her hands. “How extraordinary he even has whiskers. You are very talented Mister Pelevin.”

“So people keep telling me.” He smiled at the compliment. “That cat is six silver.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes because he’s not as big as some of the other carvings.”

The customer grabbed for her coin pouch and was soon dropping coins into his hands. “Thank you very much. It is nice to get good quality products coming over from Zoticas. Once I brought some pans off a Zotican fellow and they rusted after only a couple of uses.”

One satisfied customer off and on their way. Having pleased customers made being a merchant all worthwhile especially when the customer was happy with one of his own personal creations. Actually selling carvings didn’t seem like work at all not when he chatted away to the customers telling them of Alexander’s grand adventures; only one of which was even slightly real that being his incident with the sea serpent. Sabina and Rothe got ever so carried away with stories and he was forever having to keep up with new plot twists.

When lunchtime approached customers started to thin and go in search of lunch this was when a post runner came and dropped a letter amongst his products then ran off without a word. What would this be another threat from Freyr telling him to get out of Kazara if he wanted to keep his radiant health? He smirked at the thought however that smirk dwindled on reading the letter.

Alexander Pelevin I have heard whisperings. I expect to meet with you at Valaire Manor tomorrow. We need to talk.

Whisperings what did whisperings mean? His skin grew hot. Had Freyr worked out his identity? A meeting. Ought he to attend? For three years he’d been chasing after Freyr’s customers and knew he’d been working towards getting on his old master’s nerves so much the sleaze would want to have a meeting of kinds one day. He turned the letter round in his hands wondering what was to be done.

“Are you alright?” Sabina asked as she came over rattling the donation bucket. “You look like you’ve had a shock.”

“Of sorts.” He collected up leftover panels and statues and took them to the wagon where Leo was waiting to put them away. “Tell everyone to take a long lunch.” Trance like he walked away from his troupe with a tight hold of his letter.

His feet took him to an old friend, a cherry blossom tree. He put a hand against the trunk and let his mask shimmer away. This was no time to get sentimental. Freyr wanted to meet up with him and he couldn’t keep his distance forever. The master could quite easily have forgotten all about the apprentice he groomed and manipulated and moved onto a new obsession.

He moved away from the cherry blossom tree, up the path, into the old church. The floor and pews were full of dust more dust than usual. No one had bothered to sweep up here in the three years by the looks. The whole front room was lonely. Lifeless. No one prayed here anymore. He continued to the back rooms and ended up climbing the rung ladder into the attic. The hole was still in the roof. If Pek existed he’d probably be sore at his church lingering all derelict. Like a tightrope walker he walked across a beam over to the place where he’d spent many nights sitting silent, wondering; trying to make sense. Sitting here now was strange in the daylight especially since the only blood his knives had seen recently was that of spitting spirits. Defence never attack.

Attack.

He re-read his letter. When he was done reading he heard someone ducking under beams, coming to sit with him.

“It must be difficult for you being in Violet Town maybe you shouldn’t stop here anymore and drive straight through,” said Sasha on sitting beside him. “Sabina said you looked like you’d seen a phantom. I doubt it. We’re used to Lanzo popping up.”

He held his letter out to Sasha. “This is a worse kind of phantom.”

“You’re not planning on meeting up with him are you?”

“I think so.”

“Listen to me Eagle. Stalking after Freyr is creepy. He’s dangerous. You have made a nice life for yourself. You and Sabina share that lovely cottage and you’ve got plenty of friends. That’s a lot to achieve in three years. So can’t you forget all about Freyr, stop stalking him, and live a normal life?”

“To let him get away with turning me demon would be a sin.”

“That’s Alaric talking not you. Don’t get me wrong Alaric is quite charming in his way but he does have a sinister side to him you must have noticed.”

“It’s not just Alaric’s influence that makes me want revenge. Freyr was all I ever knew meaning there’s like an invisible web linking us. I need him to know he’s not destroyed me.”

“I think you ought to let go.”

“I want to but I need real closure.”

Sasha looked down at the graveyard at the spot where they’d been looking at that painting book. A hand rubbed his shoulder. “Then we best get you to Manor Valaire.”

“We?”

“Sure I’ll give you a ride and even come with you to have it out with him.”

“No this is something I have to do on my own, my way.”

“Then I’ll just have to wait round that pokey village until you’re done.”

“Aren’t Kalama and Lady Lev expecting you in barracks?”

“Kalama would want me to wait for you. She’s fonder of you than she lets on.”

Tomorrow it was time. He didn’t know exactly what he was going to do. He couldn’t know until he knew why Freyr wanted to see him. It must either be to tell him he knew his real identity or to make him pay in some way for stealing his customers. Whichever reason from beneath his mask he was going to have some fun trying to make Freyr sweat. Revenge.

Revenge tomorrow.

Before he started off on his journey to wind up ex-master to the limit he followed Sasha out of the church, went to collect his knives from the wagon, then approached his troupe who were having a picnic on the blanket he’d forgotten to tidy away. They were insistent that he join them so he did figuring starting a ride on an empty stomach wouldn’t make for a good start.

“I have some urgent business to attend with our rival,” he said when he’d finished his sandwich. “So Leo I want you to continue the route as planned. Rothe I’m sure you’ll concoct an outrageous excuse for my temporary absence.”

“What about your trip to Vulcan will you be back for that?” asked Vixi.

“I’m not sure. Who wants to go to Vulcan with Leo?” All the dancers raised their hands and chattered on about getting fabulous sun tans. “Then to Vulcan you shall go. Take your fare out of the coin tin. Anyone else?”

“I’ve always wanted to see Vulcan. Are you sure you can pay for so many of us?” said Rothe.

“Sure seen as we’re growing so rich. Are you four not going?”

“No we thought we’d explore Windmill Coast and keep an eye on the wagon,” said Sabina. “Besides I went last year, Caz is too chicken to make the voyage, and these two have lady sailor friends at the docks.” Sabina rolled her eyes at the musicians then eyed him. “You will be careful around Freyr won’t you? Finding a new house mate would be bothersome.”

“It’s him who best be careful,” he said then watched as half of his troupe got excited about their first trip to an exotic island. Leo was going to have a hard time keeping track of the ladies but at least Rothe would be there as well to help keep him on an even keel. There was Sasha walking his horse over. Time to get on his way. His skin still hadn’t cooled down. “Right I need to make a move. Ladies be delicate with Leo while I am away.”

“We won’t,” giggled Sparkles.

“Any problems can be reported to Sabina and yeah have fun.”

“Urm Eagle it was the same champagne from last year you wanted to purchase wasn’t it?” said Leo.

“Yeah I think so. Everything’s written down so you won’t go wrong, and if you do no worries. We can flog anything right?”

Leo worried a lot because when he’d been an apprentice he’d gotten the books muddled so had gotten sacked. The way he saw it a merchant should check his books when given to an apprentice. Numbers weren’t everyone’s strong point. He and Sabina often spent some late nights puzzling over numbers; sorting out wages and what to spend where. He smiled at Leo as he got onto the back of Sasha’s horse. As long as people were honest he didn’t mind if mistakes were made seen as most mistakes could be salvaged and if not lost coins and different champagnes weren’t the end of the world.

As they rode along the road nerves built up inside, starting from the stomach, as though old guilt and memories churned together. If Sasha hadn’t been there chatting away to him bile might very well have come out his mouth. The thought of looking Freyr in the eye was a terrifying notion. The last time he’d looked him in the eye he’d been pleading to be let up off an altar.

“Do you think that troupe of yours will run riot without you?”

He swallowed. “They run riot wherever I’m there or not. As long as they do their jobs I don’t mind how much mischief they make. People work easier without strict instruction.”

“You must be the mellowest merchant there is.”

Life was too short for strictness. Freyr was all out serious; he wanted to be as far removed from those traits as possible. “I don’t like ordering people about.”

Those nerves were giving his stomach a rollicking. Breathe in and out all normal. There was nothing to get agitated about. He stroked a knife. Of course there wasn’t. This venture to Valaire Manor was going to be a beneficial journey. He was going to get even with the man who betrayed him.